Steering-gear and brake for automobiles.



Patented Dec. 3, IQDI. F. F. LOOMIS. STEERING GEAR AND BRAKE FOR AUTOMOBILES.

(Apphcation led May 24, 1900.)

(No Moileb) UNTTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK F. LOOMIS, OF AKRON, OHIO.

STEERING-GEAR` AND BRAKE FOR AUTOMOBILES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 688,024, dated December 3, 1901.

Application filed May 24, 1900. Serial No. 17.844. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern:

Beit known that I, FRANKF. LooMIs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Akron, in the county of Summit and State of Ohio, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Steering-Gear and Brakes for Automobiles, of which the following is a specification.

My invention has relation to improvements in apparatus for steering automobiles and in the brake mechanism for retarding the speed in descending hills or making a stop, and is especially designed for police patrol-wagons.

The objects of my invention are to place the controlling apparatus directly under the drivers control, so that either or both may be operated without requiring any change of position of the driver and which devices shall be simple in construction, eective in operation, and compactly arranged to occupy a minimum of space; and it also consists in devices for severally locking the steering-gear and the brake when desirable or necessary.

My invention consists in the peculiar and novel construction, arrangement, and combination of parts hereinafter described, and then specifically pointed out in the claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

In the accompanying drawings, in which similar reference-numerals indicate like parts in the different views, Figure 1 is a side elevation of the police patrol-wagon provided with improved steering and brake gear, the wheels being indicated by dotted lines to avoid confusion, and the axles and part of the body being in section to more clearly illustrate the devices; Fig. 2, an enlarged view, looking from the right of Fig. l, of the brake and steering shafts with their immediately-connected parts, the former shaft being in central section; Figs. 3, 4, and 5, sections of Fig. 2 at the lines oc, 'y y, and z z, respectively.

Referring to the figures, 1 is the wagonbody,supported at the front by the fifth-wheel 2, consisting of two annular channels 3 4, one fitting Within the other and provided with friction rollers 5, the inner supported by means of springs 6 of the front axle 7.

Attached to the movable ring 4 of the fth- Wheel is an internal gear 8, in which meshes a pinion 9, mounted on a shaft 10, provided with a hand-wheel ll. (Shown enlarged in Fig. 5, but in which figure but a few of the teeth in each part are shown, this being sufficient to show the construction.) By this arrangement the driver can turn the front axle to guide the Wagon.

On the shaft l0 is secured a disk 12, having in one side a notch in which its one end ofa bell-crank latch 13, the other end being pivotally connected with a push-rod 14, support.

ed in the wagon-floor 15, terminating in a head convenient to the drivers foot and held up by a spring 16. This part of the appa ratus is used in running straight ahead.

Surrounding and forming a support for the shaft 10 is the hollow brake-shaft 17, bearing a radial arm 1S, connected by a rod 19 with the lower end of a lever 20, pivotally mounted in hangers 2l, one only of which is seen for the reason before stated. This lever is connected on opposite sides of its pivot with the ends of a band-brake 22, that surrounds a brake-rim 23, that is attached to the inner face of the back wheel. Hence it will be apparent that by turning the shaft 17 the rod 19 will be drawn to rock the lever 2O and draw the band 22 about the rim 23, thus setting the brake. The shaft 17 is turned by a hand-lever 24, pivoted to' rise and fall and having on its under face a blade 25 to act as a pawl to engage a fixed curved rack 26. This arrangement places the controlling mechanism compactly in front of the driver.

To permit the operation of the locking-disk 12 and the latch 13, a box 27 is interposed in the hollow shaft 17 to partially inclose the former.

I have not shown the driving mechanism, motor, or controller, as these are reserved for a separate application.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is*

In a steering-gear and brake for automobiles, the combination of a vertical revoluble shaft, means at the top for rotating the same, a pinion mounted at the bottom of said shaft, a segmental rack mounted on the fifth-wheel of said vehicle adapted to be operated by said pinion, a circular disk mounted on said shaft provided with a notch in its periphery, a spring-pressed dog to be operated 2 caoai xo ing said sleeve and adapted to engage said depending latch and retain saidsleevc in a desired position, substantially ya.; shown and described.

In testimony that I claim the above I hereuntov set my hand in the presence of two snbi5 scribing witnesses.

FRANK F. LOOMIS. In presence 0f- C. P. HUMPHREY, O. E. HUMPHREY. 

